Magnetic atoms embedded in a niobium selenide superconductor are shown to give rise to a long range coherent bound state extending tens of nanometres.Letter p1013IMAGE: GERBOLD C. MéNARDCOVER DESIGN: ALLEN BEATTIE

A theoretical study looks at the interplay between disorder and chiral symmetry in the photon statistics in a one-dimensional photonic lattice, predicting that for increased disorder coherent light becomes thermal.Letter p930; News & Views p895IMAGE: AYMAN ABOURADDYCOVER DESIGN: ALLEN BEATTIE

A visualization of the titles of scientific articles in Nature Physics, ordered clockwise based on their publication date, and connected by a citation network. Font size, colour and distance from the centre indicate the number of citations, with large titles in green denoting the most highly cited papers. Perspective p791VISUALIZATION: MAURO MARTINO, DATA: ROBERTA SINATRACOVER DESIGN: ALLEN BEATTIE

The evidence for a time-reversal symmetry-breaking phase in the high-temperature cuprate superconductors has been contradictory. But these observations are consistent with a theory predicting fractional vortices that form 'necklaces' like the one pictured here.Article p755IMAGE: MIKAEL HåKANSSONCOVER DESIGN: ALLEN BEATTIE

Light propagating through a scattering medium exhibits correlations in the transmission matrix. A theoretical and experimental study uncovers intensity correlations that survive multiple scattering, which could be exploited for imaging.Article p684; News & Views p622IMAGE: BENJAMIN JUDKEWITZ, IOANNIS PAPADOPOULOS AND LISANNE SCHULZECOVER DESIGN: ALLEN BEATTIE

The transition to widespread connectivity in networks is aptly described by concepts borrowed from percolation theory. Attempts to delay the transition with small interventions lead to explosive percolation, with dramatic consequences for the system.Review Article p531IMAGE: RAISSA M. D'SOUZACOVER DESIGN: ALLEN BEATTIE

Understanding molecular collisions at low temperatures is challenging both theoretically and experimentally, but using non-resonant photodetachment makes it possible to study the state-resolved dynamics of the inelastic collisions between hydroxyl ions and cold helium buffer gas.Letter p467IMAGE: DANIEL HAUSERCOVER DESIGN: DENIS MALLET

As a liquid relaxes towards the glass transition, its dynamics is thought to become more cooperative. Experiments using holographic optical tweezers support a contested thermodynamic picture, claiming this cooperation involves morphology changes.Letter p403; News & Views p381 IMAGE: HIMA NAGAMANASA COVER DESIGN: ALLEN BEATTIE

Rogue waves in a sea of photons can localize light beyond the diffraction limit, but their rarity makes them difficult to study. These events can now be controllably triggered in a photonic crystal resonator.Article p358IMAGE: ANDREA FRATALOCCHICOVER DESIGN: ALLEN BEATTIE

By engineering the electron wavefunction, it is possible to create Aharonov–Bohm-like phases and relativistic effects such as length contraction and time dilation in a non-relativistic setting and in the absence of electromagnetic fields.Article p261; News & Views p211 IMAGE: IDO KAMINER COVER DESIGN: ALLEN BEATTIE

Mechanical metamaterials are artificial structures whose properties originate from their geometry. In such structures, it is now shown that topological modes can exist that are robust against a range of structural deformations.Letter p153; News & Views p95 IMAGE: JAYSON PAULOSE COVER DESIGN: ALLEN BEATTIE

Graphene's electronic properties can be modified by putting it on a substrate. Now it is shown that intercalating a graphene sheet and an iridium substrate with lead islands creates resonances, attributed to a spatial variation of spin-orbit coupling.Letter p43; News & Views p11 IMAGE: FABIAN CALLEJA COVER DESIGN: ALLEN BEATTIE